Moment 164: AVOID These 3 Phone Habits That Are Hurting Your Brain! The Mental Health Doctor: Dr Aditi Nerurkar
May 31, 2024
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Dr Aditi Nerurkar discusses 'Popcorn Brain' caused by excessive phone use, the importance of setting digital boundaries, and strategies to improve mental health by reducing phone dependency. She also touches on the psychological impact of consuming graphic content on social media and maintaining mental health amidst distressing news.
Excessive smartphone use leads to 'Popcorn Brain', causing overstimulation and distractions.
Setting digital boundaries and reducing phone reliance improve mental health in a fast-paced digital era.
Deep dives
Maximizing Stress and Anxiety
The podcast explores how engaging in certain behaviors can lead to heightened stress and anxiety levels. It mentions the impact of scrolling through intense social media content late at night up to the early hours of the morning. This repeated exposure to distressing information triggers a cortisol spike, contributing to heightened stress levels. By emphasizing what not to do, the episode highlights a 30-day plan to intentionally increase anxiety and stress, cautioning against excessive exposure to negative content.
Popcorn Brain and Modern Life
The concept of 'popcorn brain' is discussed as a phenomenon resulting from overstimulation due to excessive time spent online. The episode delves into the challenges of disengaging from online activities in a fast-paced, digital world. Both internet addiction and popcorn brain are distinguished, with the latter being pervasive in contemporary society. The correlation between stress and increased reliance on digital devices, especially when seeking a sense of safety during stressful times, is elucidated.
Managing Media Consumption for Mental Health
The podcast addresses the importance of setting digital boundaries to improve mental well-being amidst constant exposure to distressing news. It suggests instilling a 'media diet' involving time limits, physical distance from devices, and logistical constraints to regulate phone use. By promoting a balanced approach to information consumption, the episode underscores the significance of protecting mental health while staying informed. It advocates for supporting causes and taking action, alongside limiting engagement with graphic content to safeguard emotional well-being.
In this moment, the world renowned expert in stress, Dr Aditi Nerurkar discusses how the majority of people in the modern world suffer from ‘Popcorn Brain’. According to Dr Aditi ‘Popcorn Brain’ comes from our excessive use of smartphones and social media. This is a real biological phenomenon where your brain circuitry ‘pops’ due to overstimulation and spending too much time online. Your brain never really gets a moment of rest, as being online means it it receives a nonstop stream of information. ‘Popcorn Brain’ is different to the psychological disorder that is internet addiction, as internet addiction seriously affects your ability to live your life, whereas Popcorn Brain defines modern life with everyone being constantly distracted. One of the ways that you can overcome ‘Popcorn Brain’ and improve our mental health is by reducing your reliance on your phone, making sure that you create healthy digital boundaries, so that you give yourself the mental space to live your life.